Valve for engines.



J. B. ALLPREB. VALVE POB. ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1907.

i Patented June "i, 1910.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

@Hoff/mm3 Patented June 7, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6) @Mmmm J. B. ALLEREE.

VALVE POR ENGINES. APPLIoATioN `FILED SEPT. 25

Patented June 7, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JAMES B. .ALLFREE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VALVE FOR ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June *7, 1910.

Application led September 25, 1907. Serial No. 394,517.

To all whom fit 'may concern: Y

Be it known that l, JAMES B. ALLFREE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of lllinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Engines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to improve the valve arrangementof steam or like engines and the embodiment thereof illustratedconstitutes a modification of the construction shown in U. S. Patent No. 77 0,67 l issued to me Sept. 20, 1904.

My invention contemplates an arrangement of cylinder and steam chestwith short live steam and exhaust ports with coperating main andcompression regulating valves so arranged as to insure a more economicaldistribution and use of the steam, in the cylinder than otherwise. Thisresult is attained by provisions hereinafter described whereby thevalves in controlling', the admission, exhaust, and compression of steamprovide for the highest rate of expansion, the greatest mean effectivepressure with relatively low terminal pressure at exhaust for a givencut olf and cylinder temperature, and at the same time attain a mostimportant result by securing a minimum clearance both in the cylinderand the connecting ports, which will provide compression Sullicient forthe proper cushioning and eflicient operation of the piston within thecylinder. The cylinder and steam-chest with the connected live steam andexhaust ports are also constructed and arranged so as to prevent to thegreatest extent radiation of heat, thereby tending to hold all the heatunits of the live steam, preserve the mean cylinder temperature at thehighest degree attainable, and reduce condensation in the cylinder steamchest, and connected ports to a minimum. The cylinder and steam chestare provided with connecting live steam and exhaust ports which inlength, condensing and frictional surfaces are reduced to a minimum andthese are so arranged that the passages leading the live steam to thecylinder are within the space surrounded by the exhaust steam passages.

One of the specific purposes of the invention is to provide a noveloperating mechanism for a compression controlling or regulating valvewhich will open said valve for exhaust simultaneously with or a littlelater than the main valve but cause the same to close for compressionmuch later than the main valve.

A further specific purpose is to provide a novel form of main valve, thesame being built up in a way to malte an exceptionally ight and at thesame time strong construction, the ports thereof being preferably ofcast steel. Means are provided whereby said valve is balanced and it isat the same time arranged to readily recede from its seat or float whiledrifting when used in conneotion with locomotive cylinders havinglow-clearance and compression regulating valves.

Other features of improvement in detail will appear from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment of my invention.

My invention comprises the novel features of construction and relativearrangements of pai'ts which will be hereinafter described andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying three sheets of drawing, forming apart of this specification, in which similar reference charactersindicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures.

Figure l is a central longitudinal section and development on line 1 1,Fig. 2; Fig. 2, is a transverse and normal section on line 2 2, Fig'. l;Fig. 3 is an approximately central transverse section on line 3 3, Fig.4, the valves and pressure plate being removed; Fig. 4 is partly asection on line 4 4, Fig. 3, and partly an elevation from the sameplane; Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a section online 6 6, Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing the arrangement of thevalves and details of the construction thereof; Fig. 8 is a sideelevation of the valves, portions of the compression-regulating valvebeing shown in section; and Fig. 9 is an end view and partial sect-ionof the valves.

In said drawings, l is a cylinder which is provided with the usualheads, stufling box, and other essentials which need not be furtherdescribed as they form no partof the invention.

2 is a piston having connected therewith a piston rod 3 which isprovided with a cross-head (not shown) the same being supported andguided in a well known manner.

4t is a steam chest located immediately adjacent and preferably abovethe cylinder, and extending over a considerable part of the peripherythereof, thus providing a jacketing effect. The wall 5 between thecylinder and steam chest is made of sulficient thickness to properlysupport the valve and withstand the pressure to which it may besubjected.

6 is a pressure plate having lateral lugs thereon through which bolts 7pass to secure said pressure plate to the steam chest. A suitable cover8 for the steam chest is fitted to the same and as shown such cover ismade integral with the pressure plate, the necessary passages being ofcourse formed therebetween. The pressure plate 6 is preferablyconstructed with double walls provided with intervening air spaces forthe purpose of insulation, and said walls are braced by suitable strutsso as to attain great stiffness without excessive weight.

9 is the main valve the same being preferably rectangular in outline andof a builtup construction hereinafter more particularly referred to.Said main valve is adapted to be reciprocated in a corresponding shapedspace 9 therefor in the steam -chest and to closely fit upon the seat 9provided therefor in said steam chest. Such reciprocation is imparted asusual by a stem 10 from any ordinary valve controlling` means (notshown). The valve 9 is preferably of the rectangular type formed withtwo end pieces or heads 11-11, which with suitable packing form a tightjoint with the walls of the pressure plate and register' with andcontrol the ports 12-19.

13 is a hollow spool forming a central tie section and as shown theactuating stem 10 has a reduced extension passing loosely through theinner end of said spool and sen cured to the outer end thereof by asuitable shoulder and nut thereon. This arrangement enables the valve tobe raised or recede from its seat slightly when compression takes placein the cylinder.

As supports for the end pieces 11, additional to the central spool 13,lateral tie rods 1li are provided extending from end to end of the valveand suitably secured to the heads 11.

13, 13 are extensions on the valve near the inner sides of the endpieces or heads, which form riding-shoes or auxiliary bearing surfacesin addition to that. provided for the valves proper and these are at adistance from the inner sides of the valve ends not less than the widthof the ports. By this means an abundant sliding surface is secured whichprevents rapid wear, and at the same time as the riding shoes are drawnback far enough on the valve seat to reach that position which is welllubricated, they will act as distributers and furnish the valve seatswith lubricant which they would not otherwise receive for the reasonthat the valve faces especially in short travel do not reach the oiledposition of the valve seat. lturthermore the steam usually blows off theoil from the valve seat near the ports in entering the cylinder and bythe above arrangement and construction of riding shoes the oil isconstantly replenished.

15 and 16 are transverse intercepting pas sages in the lower side of thevalve ends 11 vand which extend nearly the entire width of the valve. 15and 1G are channels connecting with said passages 15 and 16 andextending upward to the top of the valve where they open into the spacesbetween the packing' strips 17, 1S and 17, 18 respectively of the saidvalve. The purpose of these passages is for intercepting the steam whenpassing under the valve when the portis uncovered, and thereforeallowing the steam to pass up the channels 15 and 16 and instantlyequalize the pressure between the upper and lower sides of the valve. Bythis simple construction and arrangement it will be seen that I have notonly devised a valve that will float, but one that will be at the sametime perfectly balanced, which especially adapts the engine forlocomotive and other 'high speed work.

19, and Q0 are the `auxiliary exhaust or compression regulating valveswhich in the embodiment shown are of the piston type, though it will beunderstood that other types may readily be substituted. Said valvescontrol the short auxiliary -ports 21 and 22 and as will be seen byreference to Figs 1, 3 and 4 these valves are situated adjacent to theinner portion of the cylinder and control passages connecting with theoutside exhaust passages 23 which lead to the petticoat pipe connection24.

25 is the live steam pipe connection, which by means of passage 25 leadssteam into the space 26 of the valve chamber between the two heads 11,11 of the main valve and surrounding the central and lateral tie members13 and 14k thereof. 1t will be observed that the live steam and exhaustpassages are separated by air spaces thus affording a better insulation,it being further arranged so that the live steam is on the inside andthe exhaust passages on the outside thus protecting live steam from thecooling action of the atmosphere.

Frein the description thus far it will be apparent that by my improvedarrangement and construction of live steam ports and exhaust, l havedevised a cylinder in which the length of the ports is reduced to aminimum, thereby reducing the clearance, radiating surfaces, thefriction of the steam in passing to the cylinder and at the same timepermitting the short straight ports to be readily and easily cleaned. Itwill be further noticed that by my improved built up construction ofmain valve the same is made light and very strong and that the severalparts thereof can be produced and assembled with facility, I preferablymake these valve parts of cast steel.

I will now proceed to describe the improved construction of auxiliaryexhaust or compression regulating valve, and the novel actuatingmechanism therefor, which features constitute essential elements ofnovelty in the present case.`

A forked arm 28 has flanges 29 which are adapted to be secured to thecentral spool 13 of the main valve by means of bolts 30. Said arm 28 isloosely attached to the stem 31, of the auxiliary exhaust valves 19 and20 by means of a suitable bored sleeve 32 or otherwise, and hence saidstem 3l is caused to partake of the reciprocations of the main valve. Itis however necessary that the working port-ions of auxiliary exhaustvalves 19 and 20 have a certain amount of lost motion relative to suchreciprocation and to effect this result the following means areprovided. Said valves are constructed in the form of hollow barrels withsuitable peripheral packing and intermediate integral webs 33 and 34,said webs having central apertures to loosely lit the reduced ends ofstem'31 and thus to guide the valve barrels thereon. Pairs of collars35, 36 and 37, 38 are mounted in screw threaded engagement with the endsof stem 31 and the collars of each pair are adapted to be adjusted bysuch screw threads a proper distance apart so that the webs 33 and 34playing between the same will allow the valves 19 and 20 a predeterminedamount of lost motion relative to the stem 31 in the reciprocationsthereof. It will be noticed that said collars it the interiors of thevalve barrels 19 and 2O and hence serve to aid in guiding the same insuch lost motion travel. The ends of the valve stem 31 may be split andinternal expander screws 39 and 40 threaded therein thus to lock theouter collars 35 and 38 against accidental displacement. Suit-ablepacking pistons 41 and 42 may be secured upon valve stem 31 adjacent thevalves 19 and 20 and abutting against shoulders 43 and 44, the object ofthese pistons being to prevent all leakage through the valves from thelive steam side to the exhaust side.

The operation of my improved mechanism will be readily understood fromthe foregoing description. The live steam under the main valve 9 andbetween its ends 11, 11, passes by means of the passages between theriding shoes 13 and the ends of the valve through the short port 12 intothe cylinder back of the piston 2 when the same is forced to the otherend of the cylinder. After completely uncovering the port 12 the mainvalve returns and cuts off at a time regulated by the valve gear, theexpanded steam at the other end of the cylinder having exhausted throughthe other port 12, un-

covered by the other end of the main valve.`

This movement of the main valve, is through the arm 28 transmitted tothe auxiliary exhaust valve stem 31, and with a predetermined amount oflost motion is imparted to the valve barrels 19 and 20 which control theauxiliary exhaust passages 21 and 22. It will thus be apparent that thesaid auxiliary exhaust ports 21 and 22 will be closed after the mainexhaust through ports 12 and 12 has been closed by the main valves 11.By this arrangement of pistons and actuating mechanism the auxiliaryexhaust valves will open simultan-eously with,.or a little later, thanthe main valve, but are madeto close much later than the main valve forcompression and hence effect a more efficient distribution of the steamby avoiding unnecessary back pressure due to the too early closing ofthe main valve and at the same time having under absolute control thecompression independent of the main valve, whereby the clearance of theports and cylinder may be reduced and consequently effect a great savingof steam. To vary the time of closing the auxiliary exhaust passages onesimply properly adjusts the collars 35, 36, 37 and 38 when the requiredminimum compression for the smooth running of the engine is eected.

It will be obvious that my invent-ion may be applied with equaladvantage for use with expansible fluids other than steam. It will alsobe apparent that numerous changes may be made in details of my improvedengine and in the specific means for operating and adjusting the valveswithout aecting the essential features, and while I have in theforegoing specification described what now appears to be a preferableembodiment of the invention yet it will be obvious to those skilled inthe art that this specific embodiment may be modified in many ways andstill come within the purview of the appended claims, wherein I havepointed out the distinguishing characteristics of my said invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent is 1. A steam engine comprising a cylinder,a steam chest, admission and exhaust ports connecting the steam chestand cylinder, auxiliary exhaust ports, from the cylinder,

a main valve in said steam chest controlling the admission .and exhaustthrough the steam ports, a compression regulating valve controlling theauxiliary exhaust ports, and a Connection from said main valve to saidauxiliary exhaust valve said connection being Within the steam Chest.

2. A steam engine comprising a cylinder, short admission and exhaustports leading thereto, a main valve adapted to control said ports, shortauxiliary exhaust ports leading :from the cylinder, an auxiliary exhaustor compression regulating valve to control said auxiliary ports, and aconnection from said main valve to said auxiliary valve .said connectionbeing inclosed Within the valve casing.

3. A steam engine comprising a cylinder, short admission and exhaustports leading thereto, a main valve adapted to control said ports, shortauxiliary exhaust ports leading from the cylinder, anV auxiliary exhaustor compression regulating valve to control said auxiliary ports, and aconnection from said main valve to said auxiliary valve, said connectionbeing inclosed within the valve easing and including a lost motiondevice.

4. A steam engine comprising a cylinder, a steam chest, admission andexhaust ports connecting the steam chest and cylinder, auxiliary exhaustports connecting the Cylinder with the main exhaust, a main valve insaid steam chest cont-rolling the admission and exhaust through thesteam ports, an auxiliary exhaust Compression regulating valvecontrolling the auxiliary exhaust ports and an adjustable lost motionconnection from said main valve to said auxiliary valve, said connectionbeing Within the steam chest.

5. A steam engine comprising a cylinder, main admission and exhaustports leading to the ends thereof, main valves adapted to Control saidports, auxiliary exhaust ports leading from t-he cylinder, auxiliaryexhaust or compression regulating valves to control said auxiliary portsand a connection 'from said main valv-es and intermediate the same, tosaid auxiliary exhaust or compression regulating valves and intermediatethe sa me, said connection including a lost motion device.

6. A steam engine Comprising a cylinder, main admission and exhaustports thereto, main valves to control said ports, auxiliary exhaustports to said cylinder, auxiliary exhaust or compression regulatingvalves to control said auxiliary ports and an intermediate connectionfrom said main valve to said auxiliary valves, the same comprising aforked arm secured to the main valve stem and having engagement with theauxiliary valve stem sai-d parts being inelosed Within the valve casing.

7. A steam engine comprising a cylinder,

main admission and exhaust ports thereto, main valves to control saidports, auxiliary exhaust ports to said Cylinder, auxiliary exhaust orcompression regulating valves to control said auxiliary ports, a stem onWhich said auxiliary valves are mounted for sliding movement, means forlimiting said sliding movement and a connection from said main valves tosaid auxiliary valve stem.

8. A steam engine comprising a. cylinder, a main admission and exhaustports thereto, main valves to control said ports, auxiliary exhaustports to said cylinder, auxiliary exhaust or compression regulatingvalves to Control said auxiliary exhaust ports, a stem on Which saidauxiliary valves are mounted for sliding movement, adjustable stops forlimiting such movement and an intermediate connection 'from said mainvalves to said auxiliary valve stein.

9. A steam engine comprising a Cylinder, main admission and exhaustports thereto, main valves to Control said ports, auxiliary exhaustports from said cylinder, auxiliary exhaust or compression regulatingvalves to control :said auxiliary exhaust ports, a stem on which saidauxiliary valves are mounted to slide, means for adjustably limitingsaid sliding movement, and means for giving relatively timed movementsto said main and auxiliary valves.

10. A steam engine comprising a cylinder, main admission and exhaustports thereto, main valves to control said ports, auxiliary exhaustports from said cylinder, auxiliary exhaust or compression regulatingvalves to control said auxiliary exhaust ports, a stem on which saidauxiliary valves are mounted to slide, spaced collars threaded upon saidstem and adapted to adjustably limit said sliding movement, said collarsbeing also arranged to guide said valves, and means for impartingrelatively timed movements to said main and auxiliary valves.

1l. A steam engine Comprising a cylinder, a steam chest, short admissionand exhaust ports connecting the steam chest and cylinder, shortauxiliary exhaust ports from the cylinder, a main valve of substantiallyrecn tangular form to control the admission and exhaust through theshort steam ports having passages admitting steam to the back of saidvalve to balance the saine, an auxiliary exhaust or'compressionregulating valve to control said auxiliary exhaust ports and anintermediate connection Within the steam chest and from said main valveto said auxiliary or compression regulating valve.

12. A steam engine comprising a eylinder, a steam Chest, short mainadmission and exhaust ports connecting the steam chest and Cylinder,auxiliary exhaust ports from the Cylinder, an auxiliary exhaust orCompression regulating valve controlling said auxiliary exhaust portsand a main Valve to control said main ports the same having workingportions of substantially rectangular form, rods connecting said workingportions and passages to admit steam to the back of the Valve to balancethe same.

13. A built-up valve for steam engines comprising working portions ofsubstantially rectangular form having steam ports therein, a centralhollow spool connecting said working portions, an operating stem in saidspool and connected thereto at one point, and lateral rods connectingsaid working portions of the valve to form a rigid structure.

In testimony whereof I aiiX mv signature in presence of two witnesses. u

JAMES B. ALFREE.

Witnesses:

F. W. TREGo, F. W. STEVENS.

